Rowlock



Palenfiepl Feb 26, 1924k arm r rrna ROWLOCK.

Apialication mm April 18, 1922. 35m1 N0. 554,900.

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Be lt lrnownthat I, WILLIAM L. C. KOCH, a eitizen o1 tl1e Unitecl States, reslding at Scran-ton, in the oounty 035 Laokz'nvanna and. Saate 075 Pennsylvania, have lnvenced new anal useful Improvements in Rowlocks, of Which the following is a specification.

This inventlon relates to a universal joint rowlock, which includes a forked body aapted 110 turn on avertical axis, and trunnions attached to projecting from opposite sides 01 the shaft of an oar, and adapted to turn 011 a horizontal axis in bearings in the arms 01 the forked body.

One object 01" tl1e invention is (o prov1de improved rneans wb'ereby the trunnions may be conveniently and securely alstached to an oar shaft, and whereby, during the attach- .ing opera'rlon, the operator is enabledlo so adjust the blade as 0 impart a su1table feathering angle thereto.

Another object is 130 enable tl1e trunn1ons and tlne oar to Wl1i0h they are attached, to be quickly and oonveniencly installed in, and rernoved from the forked body, and securely connected with the body against liabllity 01 accidental separation therefrom.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part or" this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspectwe mew 0f a rowlock embodying the inven'rion.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a modification.

The same reference characters indieate the Same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, 12 represents the sl1ank, and 13 anal 14 the arms of a forked metal bocly, l1aving the general form o f an ordi nary metal rowlock. The shank 1s adapted to turn as usual, 0n a vertioa-l ax1s in a socket in tl1e gunwale of a boat. 15, 15 represent trunnions riglclly seeured to the shali; o1" an oar at a suitable polni; between t-l1e handle ponion and the outer end 01 the blade. Tl1e preferred means for securing the trunnions t0 the oar sl1aft is embodied in a cut band 17, adapted t0 embrace an oar shaft, and provicled wlth h0les 16, f0r fasening members, such as screws attaching tl1e band to the shaft. The trunnions are adapted to turn in bearings in tl1e arms 13 anal 14, arrangecl 120 support "alle trunnions horizontally, so that an oar to which the trunnions are attached is adapted to Swing 021 a horizontal axis formed by the trunnions, and on a vertical axis formed by the shank 12. The wntinuity of the band 17 is interruptecl by a slot 18, wl1ioh is arranged at one side 01 the vertical axis, as shown by Figure 2, its position with relation to the center of the space surroundecl by the band being such, that when an oar shaft is inseried in the band, ancl turned until tne plane of the oar blade 19 coincicles With the slot, as indicated by dotted. lines in Figure 2, the blade is at the proper angle for fea'thering. The slot 18, theref0re, serves as a guide or gage, whereby an operator is enablecl so attach the band to the oar shaft in position t0 cause alle oar blade to assume a feathering angle When the trunnions are installecl in tl1eir bearings.

T0 permit the quick applicatlon ancl removal of the trunnions to and from their bearings, 1 provide tl1e arm 13 with a sub'' stantially circular orifice 21, which is enlarged at its inner end, ancl constiutes one of the bearings, ehe outer end o1 said orifice being formeol to permit a trunnion to turn therein Without moving sidewise. 1 also provicle the arm 14 with a vertically elongated slot 22, the lower end of which constitutes the bearing for ehe other trunnion, the slot permitting oho trunnion journaled therein 130 swing upward, out of engagement With the arm 14, as sl1own by dotted lines in Figure 8. Tl1e other trunnion is permitted to swing upward in the orifioe 21, by the enlargement 015 the inner end 0f saicl orifice.

The slotted arm 14 is provided with a detent, adapted to prevent tl1e removal of the trunnions from the arms and displaoeable 130 permit such removal. As here shown, tl1e detent is embodied in a resiliena shank 24, one end of which is attaohed at 25 to the arm 14, and a heacl 26, carried by the free end of the shank, and normally neld thereby in position to confine the trunnion in saicl slot in its operative position. "Ehe detent may be swung ouoward to withdraw it from its holding-down position. Tl1e lower sicle of the detent head. 26 is preferably parallel With the trunnion, so tl1at lt is adapted to positively hold down tl1e latter. The back 0f the head is preferably so ourved 01 inclined, that a trunnion swung down ward from the raised position shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, will first outwardly displace the head anal then allow it to swing inward,

The trunnions 15 may be attac hed to an oar shaft by means other than the band 17, and may form the ends of a rod 0r pin 15, Which is driven through and tightly se cured. in an oar shaft 26, as shovvn by Figure 2.

I c1aim:

1. A rowlock comprising a b ody including a shank adapted. to turn in a gunwale socket, and fork arms projecting upvvard from the shank, and' each provided with a bearing, and a band adapted to embrace and be secured to the shaft 0f an oar, and provided with trunnions adapted t0 turn in said bearings, the continuity of said band being interrupted by a slot, permit ting che compression of the band upon the oar shaft, andarranged at one side of the vertica1 axis of the body to provide meanS whereby, during the operation of attaehing the blad'e to an oar shaft,the operator is enabled t0 so adjust the oar blade as so imparta suitable feathering inclination thereto.

2. A rowlock comprising a body including a shank adapted 130 turn in a gunwale socket, and fork arms projecting upvvard from;the shank, one of said arms having a vertically elongated.slot the 1ower ehd 0f whioh constitutes a trunnion bearing, the other arm being provided With a substantially' circ1ilar orifice constituting another trunnion bearing; a pair of trunnions adapted to be secured to the shaft of an 0ar, and to turn on saicl bearings, the said s1ot and the circular bearing being formed fi;o permit the separation of ehe trunnions from the fork arms, and a displaceable detent engaged with the slotted arm, and adapted .t0 prevent the removal 0f the trunnions -from the fork arms.

3. A rovv1ock substantially as specified by c]aim 2, said detent being embodied in a resilient shank fixed at 0ne end to the slotted arm, and a head carried by the free end 0f said shank, and normally held by the latter in position 130 confine the s1ot-engaging trunnion in its operative position, at the lower end 0f said s1ot.

4:. A r owlock substantially as specified by 'claim 2, said detent being embodied in a resilieni: shank fixed at one end 150 the slotted arm, and a head c arried by the free end of said shank, and normall y held by the-latter inposition to confine the slot-engaging trumnion in its operative position, at the lower end of said slot, said head having a 10Wer face formed t0 positively confine the slotengaging trunnion in ias operative position, and an upper face formed. to be displaced by said trunnion during the operation of engaging the trunnion with the fork a1-1ns;

In testirnony vvhereof I have aflixed my 

